If there were heaven on Earth, Tuscany would be it. Each one of its towns is better than the other, and Lucca is not an exception. It is an amazing combination of Roman layout and medieval architecture. Its medieval walls are, still today, one of its main tourist attractions. Lucca is part of our tour at Villas of Italy:Tuscan Adventure in September of 2017.

The walls have an actual length of approximately 4 kilometers (a bit over 2.5 miles), and they are in perfect condition. It is indeed possible to walk and ride a bike on them, as there is a road on top. It is important to understand that city walls in the Middle Ages were not just used for defensive purposes, but also to offer a way to move around the city without having to go through it, but rather around it, just as it happens with modern, cross-town highways. Lucca's medieval walls, though, are far from the cement and billboards-laden freeways of today: very pleasant to walk, full of trees, green and benches to sit and relax, they make a perfect, romantic stop for lovers.

Inside the walls is the historical center of the city, that has nchanged since its original foundation. It is simply gorgeous and breathtaking, and it truly feels like walking in the past, into a beautiful place, frozen in time.​​Just like in ancient times, access to the city is possible only through the city wall gates – there are six of them – a truly suggestive way to enter a city.

In the past, Lucca was also connected to the sea, as it had a river port that was used for transportation. It was indeed a beautiful net of creeks that eventually led to the river Arno and the sea. The fluvial port was widely used until the late 1800's, but is no longer visible today.Lucca today remains a very exclusive town, rich, self-sustaining, and very open and friendly to visitors. It is a city that must be visited and it can be easily considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, if not in the world.

Author​Tony Moglia's grandparents immigrated from Italy in the early 1900's. He's a dual citizen who has traveled extensively throughout Italy for 40 years. He's happily married to a vibrant dancer who together have two children and three grandchildren. Tony has dreamed of Villas of Italy since his first trip to Italy, and now he shares his dream with you.